Clothesline clamp



A g 1929- o. E. MALMBQRG CLOTHESLINE CLAMP Filed Nov. 17, 1928 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

OTTO E. MALMBOEG, OF MAYW'OOD, ILLINOIS.

CLOTHESLINE CLAMP.

Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in clothes line clamps and it consists of the mat ters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a small eiiicient device which may be easily and cheaply produced and which is adapted to be detachably connected with clothes line posts for gripping parts of the line to hold it taut between the several posts as the line is being hung in place and to hold said line taut when in use for its intended purpose without the aid of the usual clothes poles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be left either upon the posts or upon the line in the removing of the line from the posts for storage between times of actual use of the line.

These objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved clamp as when applied to a clothes line post for gripping upon a part of the associated clothes line. g

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of a clothes line clamp embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation thereof.

In general my improved clothes line clamp includes a U-shaped yoke having an opening in its side and a clamping arm pivoted to the top end of the yoke in a manner so that the bottom cam shaped end of said arm may be swung into a position to engage that part of the line passing over the bottom or cross-bar of the yoke to clamp said line part. thereagainst, the top end of the yoke having a swiveling eye by which the clamp as a whole may be detachably connected to a hook on a clothes line post.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates as a whole the yoke of the clamp and 2 indicates the clamping arm thereof. The yoke comprises a U- shaped body which includes laterally spaced arms 3 and 1, respectively, connected together at their bottom ends by a cross-bar 5. The arm 3 of the body is made integral with one T pair of hearing ears and. '7 re 17, 1928. Serial No. 320,027.

spectively, connected together by a cross head that includes a horizontal flange 8 and a second flange 9 disposed to the rear of the yoke and parallel with the arms 3 and respectively, the term rear in this instance being relative and only used for convenience. In the flange 8, midway between said bearing cars, is operatively secured a swivel eye 10 which can turn withrespect to said flange. The arm 41- is shorter than thearm 3 and terminates in an outwardly curved end P which, in connection with a lug 7 on the ear 7, de fines a downwardly and inwardly opening slot 11 in one side of the yoke by which a part of a clothes line or rope 12 may be entered into said yoke.

The clamping arm 2 includes an arm portion 13 having a bearing sleeve 14 at its top end which fits between and is pivoted to the ears 6 and 7 of the yoke by a pin 15. The bottom end of the arm portion 13 is formed to provide a grooved camshaped'line-engaging foot 16 which is made eccentric with re spect to the axis of the pin 15, and on the front end of said cam is formed a button 17. On the top end of the arm portion 13 is formed a rearwardly extending shoulder 18 adapted to engage the bottom edge of the flange 9 and to prevent the arm portion 13 from being swung too. far to the rear when pressure is brought tobear upon the button 17 to bring the foot 16 into position to clamp the line 12 against the cross-bar of the yoke.

In use as when hanging up a clothes line 12 upon associated clothes line posts or similar supports 19-19, which are provided with the usual hooks 20, one end of the line is attached to a hook on one post in the manner wellknown by forming a loop in said line and engaging it with the hook on one post. I then apply one of my improved clamps to each of the other posts by engaging the swivel eye thereof with the hooks 20 of each of said other posts. A part of the line is then i11- serted through the side opening slot, after the clamping arm 2 has been swung forwardly out of the yoke as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 so that said line part may be engaged with the cross-bar 5 of the yoke, which crossbar is transversely rounded to present no sharp edges to said line part. A pull is exerted upon the line beyond said clamp to draw it taut between said first two posts and then the lever arm is swung inwardly and toward the rear of the yoke so that the earn tan in em CTl gages the line part and clamps it against the cross-bar. Thumb pressure upon the bottom 17 will force the cam foot into tight engagement with said line part and the stop shoulder 18 will engage the bottom edge of the flange 9 and stop further movement of the clamping arm before it is swung too far rearwardly. Thus the line is held taut between the first two posts. I then go to the third post and clamp another part of the line in the -de vice associated with said third post in the same manner. This operation is repeated until the last post is reached when the line will be securely held taut between the several posts.

To take down the line, I start at the last post and release the clamping arm of the device associated therewith and work toward the first post, the clamping arms of the several posts being released in their order as the line is wound up. After releasing the clamping arm of each device on each post to provide the slack in the line, I may either remove the device from each post as the line is taken down so that the device hangs upon the line or I may leave each device hang on the hook of its associated post and remove the line therefrom out through the side opening slot thereof. lVhen the line is taken down and the several devices have been removed from the posts so that they hang upon'the line, they cannot he accidentally displaced from the line because of the formation of the side opening slot.

The device, which is indeed efficient for its intended purpose, is small in size and comprises but a few parts which are strong and rigid and cannot readily get out of order.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement,

and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative and therefore I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the kind described embodying therein, a yoke including side arms, with a head at one end and a cross-bar at the other end, said head comprising spaced bean ing ears and a connecting member, a swivel eye mounted on said connecting member, a clamping arm disposed at one end between and pivoted to said connecting member for a swinging movement, a shoulder on said arm to engage said connecting member to limit the swinging movement of said arm in onedirection and a cam shaped portion on the bot tom end of said arm to coact with the crossbar of the yoke to clamp a part of a line therebetween.

2. A device of the kind described embodying therein, a yoke including side arms with a head atone end and a cross-bar at the other end, one of said arms having a slot therein through which a line may be entered into said yoke and said head comprising a pair of spaced bearing ears and aconnecting member, a swivel eye mountedon said connecting member, a clamping arm disposed between and pivoted at one end to saidears for a swinging movement, a shoulder on said end of said arm to engage said member to limit the swinging movement of said arm in one direction and a cam shaped portion on the other end of said arm to coact with the crossbar of the yoke to clamp a part of a line therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of November 1928.

OTTO E. MALMBORG. 

